Employco marked its 30th anniversary on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with an evening event at Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse in Oak Brook, Illinois, celebrating the company’s growth from a family startup into a multigenerational business.
The anniversary gathering honored not only the company’s milestone, but also the relationships that helped shape its three-decade run. Friends, clients, employees, and supporters filled the room for a night of conversation, live entertainment, and reflection on the company’s history.
“It doesn’t feel like 30 years, but it does feel like three decades,” Scott Wilson, Executive Vice President of Employco, said during the event.
Stacie Wilson, Rob’s wife, helped shape the setting with Employco green lighting and details that reflected the company’s history. Longtime supporters added to the celebratory atmosphere.
For many guests, the evening was as much about the Wilson family and the relationships behind Employco as it was about the company itself.
“What I love about this event is that not only is it the clients that came, but the employees that came, because both are being celebrated, both brought it to what it is today,” said Thomas Dungan, CEO and co-founder of Skylight Lending.
Entertainment throughout the evening included a cocktail-hour performance by Steven Mast of Plain White T’s, a dinner performance by Skinny Williams, and an after-dinner set by The Cover Girls, a violin trio.
Patick Jean-Baptiste celebrated Rob and Scott Wilson’s father, reminiscing about his relationship with Bob, as well as his relationship with the Wilson family as a whole. He said, “The patriarch of this family was someone who was truly a mentor for me, he made sure I knew how to present myself. The Wilson family is incredibly generous. I see how you treat all of your friends and everyone around you, when you talk about Skinny, when you talk about the flowers, all of that speaks to not just tradition but loyalty. The people around you, you genuinely love, and you continue to bring them into your fold again and again and again.”
After dinner, guests enjoyed dessert and casino-style gaming at blackjack and craps tables inspired by Rob and Scott Wilson’s father. Michael Klein, CEO of Airoom Architects, Builders, and Remodelers, said the tribute was evident throughout the evening.
“It’s a tribute to the whole family. We’re excited to be a part of it and to watch the company grow,” Klein said.
At the end of the night, casino-style gaming concluded with prizes. The guest with the most chips received $500, while the second- and third-place winners each received $200.
Guests described the event in upbeat terms. Jamie Cruz, President and Founder of Vargas Group, called it “a culmination of years and of charging forward with ideas, dreams, and thoughts. And there, 30 years later, look what you have.”
The evening closed with reflection on Employco’s beginnings. Rob and Scott Wilson worked alongside their father to launch the company in 1996, a history that remained central to the celebration.
Rob Wilson recalled the company’s early years in personal terms.
“Our mom once asked us, ‘Are you sure about this thing?’ We said, ‘Trust us. We are building something special.’ Here we are 30 years later,” he said.
He also thanked the company’s friends, family members, and clients across the country for helping Employco become what it is today.
What Partners Said
“Well, several years ago, Employco created their own app that had a lot of training videos for show floor workers. EACA is in the process of creating our own app and using the videos so that our members can use them while onboarding. It is to be incredibly valuable for us.” — Jim Wurm, Exhibitor Appointed Contractors Association (EACA)
“I’m very interested in expanding the relationship to see how I can embolden my people to grow without having to worry about how I can support them. With Employco’s help I can ensure that their health insurance and payroll are processed correctly. It’s about consistency of operations so that I can then enable my growth.” — Thomas Dungan, Skylight Lending
“I’m excited to continue to strengthen our relationship, as they are fast, quick, and reliable.” — Bill Atkins, Nuvista
“I’m excited for the diversity of their growth. I look forward to seeing what they’re going to branch out into and take that as an inspiration to move my own business forward.” — Jamie Cruz, Vargas Group
“I’m looking forward to the increased technology, and their breadth of what they can offer our HR department and our employees online. They offer quick information, great service, and online self-help types of programs that don’t require going to the HR department or the accounting department to try to figure it out. We’re starting to incorporate more of that.” — Michael Klein, Airoom Architects, Builders, and Remodelers
